BAMBOO CRAFTS AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN : A FIELD STUDY IN BAREILLY DISTRICT OF UTTAR PRADESH

Bamboo crafts are immensely valuable in India, both commercially and historically, particularly in areas such as the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, which is renowned for its bamboo handicrafts. This study investigates how the bamboo handicraft sector contributes to local job creation, with an emphasis on the Districts Cluster as well as small companies. Fatehganj employs over 500 cane and bamboo workers, including 400 female artisans. Women artisans play an important role in preserving traditional crafts and promoting the socioeconomic growth of rural and urban areas. The study employs the probability-based random sample method, selecting 10% of the total worker population for primary data collection. The goal is to investigate the business's impact on the community, analyse gender equality, and figure out the scope of bamboo work, employment, and exports. The results shows the numerous challenges that women craftsmen confront, including economic limits, a lack of market access, limited education, and little technical skills. Many women artisans have low incomes and limited access to credit and financial services. Additionally, cultural expectations, gender norms, and home responsibilities limit their possibilities for progress. Although legislative initiatives and non-governmental organisations have launched various programs to assist women artisans, their influence is typically limited due to a lack of knowledge and accessibility. This study highlights the urgent need of programs to develop skills, economic and technological advancement, and community-level support structures to help women artisans. Keywords: Bamboo Crafts, Cane and Bamboo, Women Artisans ,Worker, Cluster , Industry ,Employment Generation , Challenges